Published: Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 22, 2013 at 10:09 a.m.

During his senior year at Pender High School, Tramel Johnson had his sights set on the open road.

His dad, Bennie, had Tramel's sights set on some open books – of the college variety.

"I wanted to be a truck driver, get out on the open road," remembers Tramel, 29, a crane operator for the Port of Wilmington. "But my dad said that my brother, Tremayne, and I had to go to college first. That was the end of that discussion."

Off the brothers went to Fayetteville, where Tramel got a three-year degree from Fayetteville Tech in applied sciences, and Tremayne started a journey with a bachelor's degree from N.C. State, then a master's from Duke University in theology and now is pastor of his own church in Newport News, Va.

Tramel's journey ended at the Port of Wilmington, where his maternal granddad, Ben Smith, and then his father, Bennie Johnson, both had careers. His granddad supervised the container yard; his father worked a forklift in the steel yard.

In fact, Tramel has ended up much higher than either of them as he operates container Crane 10 from high above the port floor, relieving huge ships of their cargo at an average rate of 50 containers an hour.

The huge blue cranes are visible from all around the Cape Fear area, and Tramel and his colleagues sit hunched forward, looking down through a glass floor as they snatch containers of just about anything you'll later find at a Walmart, lifting them off the ship and onto waiting trucks for delivery to outlets up and down the East Coast.

Tramel Johnson has found a second home at what's become a family tradition.

That's important since the crane team of operators – and there are 12 on the port roster – usually arrive at 6 a.m. and seldom leave before 6 p.m. In a typical week, 15 hours of overtime is normal.

"But our supervisors really look after us," Johnson said. "They work it out so we can have time at home with family. I like the way we all work together here."

And eat together there.

The fellows – currently no women have broken through the glass floor – work the crane for about three hours straight, and then get a corresponding three-hour break, usually gathering in a lunch room where the wives of supervisors' James Hatchell and Anthony Hassell provide such treats as banana pudding, blueberry cobbler and sweet-potato pies.

Also sucking out the stress is a TV playing "Judge Alex" and "Inside Edition."

"We get together with whoever you're running with (operators of the other three big blues) that day," Johnson said. "And if we didn't pack lunch, one of us takes turns going out for fast food."

Like his dad, who died in 2009 but not before seeing Tremayne get his own church and Tramel follow him at the port, Tramel began as a forklift driver. It was 2005, and he earned around $12 an hour.

Then there were four years as a container operator on the ground before getting his chance at operating the cranes, where the pay is roughly $18 per hour.

"I got my chance at that three years ago," Tramel said. "First you do it for 15 minutes, then 30, then finally an hour. They want to see if you can keep up (with the Port's productivity standards)."

Laura Blair, the port's senior director of external affairs, says the crane crews' standard of each man "running" an average 50 containers an hour delights customers who want their ships shaped fast – meaning emptied. Their efficiency makes Wilmington highly competitive with other ports nearby: Charleston, Savannah and the Hampton Roads area in Virgnia.

"What sets the crane operators apart," Blair said, "is they work like a family. They have each other's back. They are the front line to our customers."

The family fabric in Tramel's life is not just male influenced. As a youngster, he helped his grandmother, Vivian, at her Pender County day care center, and he beams about the career of his mother, Karen, who recently retired after working with disabled children for New Hanover County.

He and Shenique Brown have a 1-year-old son, Tramel Jr., and Tramel becomes Mr. Dad at night when he cares for his son, plus Shenique's two other children. She works an evening shift as a 911 operator for New Hanover County.

While Tramel believes Shenique's job might actually be more stressful than his own, he's very aware of his responsibilities inside the cab of Crane 10, lifting off containers that can weigh 170,000 pounds. There are two longshoremen on the ship guiding him, and four others directing his placement of the crane on the flatbed truck.

"When I was driving the forklift, I was only worried about me getting hurt," Johnson said. "Now, as crane operators, we've gotta watch out for everybody.

"We've got a lot of lives at stake."

They also have a terrific message to share, of work ethic, safety and efficiency. In fact, Tramel represents his crane colleagues at area schools, giving talks about the port and his career.

And, of course, about cracking the books in college before hitting the open road.

<p>During his senior year at Pender High School, Tramel Johnson had his sights set on the open road.</p><p>His dad, Bennie, had Tramel's sights set on some open books – of the college variety.</p><p>"I wanted to be a truck driver, get out on the open road," remembers Tramel, 29, a crane operator for the Port of Wilmington. "But my dad said that my brother, Tremayne, and I had to go to college first. That was the end of that discussion."</p><p>Off the brothers went to Fayetteville, where Tramel got a three-year degree from Fayetteville Tech in applied sciences, and Tremayne started a journey with a bachelor's degree from N.C. State, then a master's from Duke University in theology and now is pastor of his own church in Newport News, Va.</p><p>Tramel's journey ended at the Port of Wilmington, where his maternal granddad, Ben Smith, and then his father, Bennie Johnson, both had careers. His granddad supervised the container yard; his father worked a forklift in the steel yard.</p><p>In fact, Tramel has ended up much higher than either of them as he operates container Crane 10 from high above the port floor, relieving huge ships of their cargo at an average rate of 50 containers an hour.</p><p>The huge blue cranes are visible from all around the Cape Fear area, and Tramel and his colleagues sit hunched forward, looking down through a glass floor as they snatch containers of just about anything you'll later find at a Walmart, lifting them off the ship and onto waiting trucks for delivery to outlets up and down the East Coast. </p><p>Tramel Johnson has found a second home at what's become a family tradition.</p><p>That's important since the crane team of operators – and there are 12 on the port roster – usually arrive at 6 a.m. and seldom leave before 6 p.m. In a typical week, 15 hours of overtime is normal.</p><p>"But our supervisors really look after us," Johnson said. "They work it out so we can have time at home with family. I like the way we all work together here."</p><p>And eat together there.</p><p>The fellows – currently no women have broken through the glass floor – work the crane for about three hours straight, and then get a corresponding three-hour break, usually gathering in a lunch room where the wives of supervisors' James Hatchell and Anthony Hassell provide such treats as banana pudding, blueberry cobbler and sweet-potato pies.</p><p>Also sucking out the stress is a TV playing "Judge Alex" and "Inside Edition."</p><p>"We get together with whoever you're running with (operators of the other three big blues) that day," Johnson said. "And if we didn't pack lunch, one of us takes turns going out for fast food."</p><p>Like his dad, who died in 2009 but not before seeing Tremayne get his own church and Tramel follow him at the port, Tramel began as a forklift driver. It was 2005, and he earned around $12 an hour.</p><p>Then there were four years as a container operator on the ground before getting his chance at operating the cranes, where the pay is roughly $18 per hour.</p><p>"I got my chance at that three years ago," Tramel said. "First you do it for 15 minutes, then 30, then finally an hour. They want to see if you can keep up (with the Port's productivity standards)."</p><p>Laura Blair, the port's senior director of external affairs, says the crane crews' standard of each man "running" an average 50 containers an hour delights customers who want their ships shaped fast – meaning emptied. Their efficiency makes Wilmington highly competitive with other ports nearby: Charleston, Savannah and the Hampton Roads area in Virgnia.</p><p>"What sets the crane operators apart," Blair said, "is they work like a family. They have each other's back. They are the front line to our customers."</p><p>The family fabric in Tramel's life is not just male influenced. As a youngster, he helped his grandmother, Vivian, at her Pender County day care center, and he beams about the career of his mother, Karen, who recently retired after working with disabled children for New Hanover County.</p><p>He and Shenique Brown have a 1-year-old son, Tramel Jr., and Tramel becomes Mr. Dad at night when he cares for his son, plus Shenique's two other children. She works an evening shift as a 911 operator for New Hanover County. </p><p>While Tramel believes Shenique's job might actually be more stressful than his own, he's very aware of his responsibilities inside the cab of Crane 10, lifting off containers that can weigh 170,000 pounds. There are two longshoremen on the ship guiding him, and four others directing his placement of the crane on the flatbed truck.</p><p>"When I was driving the forklift, I was only worried about me getting hurt," Johnson said. "Now, as crane operators, we've gotta watch out for everybody.</p><p>"We've got a lot of lives at stake."</p><p>They also have a terrific message to share, of work ethic, safety and efficiency. In fact, Tramel represents his crane colleagues at area schools, giving talks about the port and his career.</p><p>And, of course, about cracking the books in college before hitting the open road.</p><p>Metro desk: 343-2384</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @StarNewsOnline</p>